2019 Wyoming Statutes
Title 26 - Insurance Code
Chapter 2 - The Insurance Commissioner
Article 1 - Commissioner
Section 26-2-121 - Examinations; Report; Contents.

26-2-121. Examinations; report; contents.

(a) No later than sixty (60) days following completion of the examination the examiner in charge shall make a verified, full and true written report of any examination he makes and shall therein certify under oath the report and his findings. Investigations initiated by the commissioner or his examiners and assistants for the purpose of ascertaining whether an insurer, agent or adjuster has violated any provision of the insurance code are not examinations within the provisions of this section.

(b) The report shall contain only information appearing upon the books, records, documents and papers of or relating to the insurer, its agents or other person or affairs being examined, or ascertained from testimony of its officers, agents or other individuals under oath concerning the affairs of that insurer or person, together with any conclusions and recommendations as may reasonably be warranted by the information.

(c) Upon receipt of the verified report the commissioner shall transmit the report to the insurer examined, together with a notice which shall afford the insurer examined a reasonable opportunity of not more than thirty (30) days to make a written submission or rebuttal with respect to any matters contained in the examination report. Upon written request by the insurer filed within the thirty (30) day period, the commissioner shall grant a hearing on the report and shall not file the report until after the hearing and after any appropriate modifications to the report.

(i) Repealed by Laws 1993, ch. 134, § 2.

(ii) Repealed by Laws 1993, ch. 134, § 2.

(d) Repealed by Laws 1993, ch. 134, § 2.

(e) Repealed by Laws 1993, ch. 134, § 2.

(f) Within thirty (30) days of the end of the period allowed for the receipt of written submissions or rebuttals or within thirty (30) days after conclusion of a hearing held pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, the commissioner shall fully consider and review the report, together with any written submissions or rebuttals and any relevant portions of the examiner's work papers and enter an order:

(i) Adopting the examination report as filed or with modification or corrections. If the examination report reveals that the insurer is operating in violation of any law, regulation or prior order of the commissioner, the commissioner may order the company to take any action the commissioner considers necessary and appropriate to cure the violation;

(ii) Rejecting the examination report with directions to the examiners to reopen the examination for purposes of obtaining additional data, documentation or information, and refiling pursuant to this section; or

(iii) Calling for an investigatory hearing with no less than twenty (20) days notice to the company for purposes of obtaining additional documentation, data, information and testimony.

(g) All orders entered pursuant to paragraph (f)(i) of this section shall be accompanied by findings and conclusions resulting from the commissioner's consideration and review of the examination report, relevant examiner work papers and any written submissions or rebuttals. Any such order shall be considered a final administrative decision and may be appealed pursuant to the Wyoming Administrative Procedure Act and shall be served upon the insurer by certified mail, together with a copy of the adopted examination report. Within thirty (30) days of the issuance of the adopted report, the company shall file affidavits executed by each of its directors stating under oath that they have received a copy of the adopted report and related orders.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provision of this code any hearing conducted under paragraph (f)(iii) of this section by the commissioner or authorized representative, shall be conducted as a nonadversarial confidential investigatory proceeding as necessary for the resolution of any inconsistencies, discrepancies or disputed issues apparent upon the face of the filed examination report or raised by or as a result of the commissioner's review of relevant work papers or by the written submission or rebuttal of the insurer. The hearing shall proceed expeditiously with discovery by the insurer limited to the examiner's work papers which tend to substantiate any assertions set forth in any written submission or rebuttal. The hearing shall proceed with the commissioner or his representative posing questions to the persons subpoenaed. Thereafter the insurer and the department may present testimony relevant to the investigation. Cross examination shall be conducted only by the commissioner or his representative. The insurer and the department shall be permitted to make closing statements and may be represented by counsel of their choice. The commissioner shall not appoint an examiner as an authorized representative to conduct the hearing but may exercise all other powers granted to him in the conduct of hearings under this code. Within twenty (20) days of the conclusion of any such hearing, the commissioner shall enter an order pursuant to paragraph (f)(i) of this section.

(j) Upon the adoption of the examination report under paragraph (f)(i) of this section, the commissioner shall continue to hold the content of the examination report as private and confidential information for a period of thirty (30) days except to the extent provided in subsection (c) of this section. Thereafter, the commissioner may open the report for public inspection so long as no court of competent jurisdiction has stayed its publication.

(k) Nothing contained in W.S. 26-2-116 through 26-2-124 shall require the department to disclose any information or records which would indicate or show the existence or content of any investigation or activity of a criminal justice agency. Nothing contained in this code shall prevent or be construed as prohibiting the commissioner from disclosing the content of an examination report, preliminary examination report or results, or any matter relating thereto, as authorized by and in accordance with the provisions of W.S. 26-2-113(d). In the event the commissioner determines that regulatory action is appropriate as a result of any examination, he may initiate any proceedings or actions as provided by law. The provisions of W.S. 26-2-116 through 26-2-124 with regard to release of information shall prevail should any conflict arise between this act and W.S. 16-4-201 through 16-4-205.

(m) All working papers, recorded information, documents and copies thereof produced by, obtained by or disclosed to the commissioner or any other person in the course of an examination made under W.S. 26-2-116 through 26-2-124, or in the course of analysis by the commissioner of the financial condition or market conduct of a company, shall be given confidential treatment and are not subject to subpoena and shall not be made public by the commissioner or any other person, except to the extent provided in subsections (j) and (k) of this section.